Bi-level food storage and transportation container

ABSTRACT

A food storage container is provided which has compartments with bottom surfaces at differing vertical positions for storing various food items while keeping those food items separated from one another.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/217,953 filed Jun. 8, 2009 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/217,966 filed Jun. 8, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates containers for carrying food. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved lunchbox for carrying food which includes compartments designed to protect soft items in the container from damage caused by heavy items in the lunchbox.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain food carrying containers, referred to as lunchboxes, are well-known as a convenient way to store, protect and carry food for consumption away from home. Children commonly carry lunchboxes to school. The lunchboxes typically contain a combination of purchased items, such as drink containers and bagged snacks, as well as homemade items such as sandwiches and cookies. Adults also sometimes carry lunchboxes to work, with similar items inside. Lunchboxes are commonly either soft-sided or hard-sided rectangular boxes with a single compartment inside.

These prior art lunchboxes have significant drawbacks. Most importantly, the typical lunch consists of both heavy, hard objects and light, fragile objects. For example, a lunch may include a can or bottle of a beverage and an apple, combined with a sandwich and a bag of potato chips. When all of these items are placed in a single compartment, the heavy items may crush the light items, because the heavy items are free to move around in the single rectangular compartment.

Another drawback of soft-sided lunchboxes is that they are difficult to clean. They are typically cleaned by hand with soap and water or household cleaners. Often, such cleaning methods do not sanitize the lunchbox, often leaving food particles and live microorganisms behind.

A further drawback to current lunchbox designs is that the lunchboxes are not customizable. Once purchased, the ornamental design features on the outside of the lunchbox cannot be changed easily. These drawbacks, among others, are addressed with the lunchbox of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A food storage container is provided which includes first and second shells. The second shell is connected to the first shell for pivotal movement of the first shell with respect to the second shell. Preferably, the first and second shells are attached to one another by hinges. In one embodiment, the hinges have a flat outside surface such that the food storage container will remain in place when the outer surfaces of the hinges are placed on a horizontal surface. A latch is preferably included for releasably securing the first shell to the second shell.

The food storage container has a vertical axis passing through the first shell and the second shell. The second shell has a first compartment with a bottom surface at a first vertical location. The food storage container has a second compartment with a bottom surface at a second vertical location lower than the first vertical location and a third compartment having a bottom surface at a third vertical location lower than the first vertical location. In one embodiment, the second and third vertical locations are at substantially the same point on the vertical axis. Preferably, the second and third compartments are each sized to hold at least a cylindrical object having a diameter of at least of at least 2.5 inches and a height of at least 4.75 inches while the first shell is secured to the second shell. Preferably, the first compartment is sized to hold at least an object having the approximate dimensions of 6.5 inches in length, 5 inches in width and 2 inches in height when the first shell is secured to the second shell. In one embodiment, the first compartment has a volume of between 60 cubic inches and 120 cubic inches and the second and third compartments have a volume of between 50 cubic inches and 100 cubic inches each.

Preferably, the food storage container includes a spring button attached to the inside of one of the first shell and the second shell. The spring button is capable of moving between a first position in which the spring button is near one of the first shell and the second shell and a second position in which the spring button is further away from the one of the first shell and the second shell. Additional spring buttons can also be used.

In one embodiment, the food storage container includes a hand grip area located on one of the first shell and the second shell and having depressions therein each sized to receive a finger of a user. The hand grip area could be made from, for example, thermoplastic elastomers, silicone or other suitable materials.

In one embodiment, one of the first and second shells has an outside surface with a cavity therein. A decorative plate can be releasably secured within the cavity. Additional decorative plates can be releasably secured within the cavity in place of the first decorative plate. The user of the lunchbox can modify the appearance of the decorative plates by generating a decorative image on a personal computer, printing the image and attaching the decorative image to the decorative plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the lunchbox of the present invention;

FIG. 2. is a perspective view of the invention of FIG. 1 showing the lunchbox in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention of FIG. 1 showing an alternative latch configuration;

FIG. 5 is a is a perspective view of the invention of FIG. 1 showing the lunchbox held by a user;

FIG. 6 is a is a front elevation view of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a is a rear elevation view of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the hinge used in connection with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial side elevation view of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of three plates used in connection with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a is a top plan view of another plate used in connection with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the plate of FIG. 14 with additional ornamentation;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the present invention showing the plate of FIG. 14 attached to the lunchbox; and

FIG. 17 is a representation of a software interface for decorating the lunchbox of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 17 illustrate the present invention. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the lunchbox 10 includes a first shell 12 and a second shell 14. The first shell 12 and the second shell 14 are preferably made from thermoplastic polymer materials which are capable of withstanding the heat of an automatic dishwasher. Such materials may include polypropylene, high density polyethylene, and low density polyethylene, although other materials will be suitable. The lunchbox 10 includes a handle 16 attached to either the first shell 12 or the second shell 14. Between the handle 16, the first shell 12 and the second shell 14 is a space 18 (FIG. 3) large enough to receive a person's hand. Indentations 20 are placed on the surface of the first shell 12 and the second shell 14 suitable for receiving the fingers of a user. Additional indentations 22 (FIG. 3) are placed on the first shell 12 and the second shell 14 opposite the indentations 20 so that the lunchbox 10 may be held in different orientations. The lunchbox has a vertical axis 24 passing through the first shell 12 and the second shell 14.

The interior 30 of the lunchbox 10 is shown in FIG. 2. The first shell 12 has a perimeter 32. Similarly, the second shell 14 has a perimeter 34. Within the perimeter 34 of the second shell 14 is a first compartment 40, a second compartment 42, and a third compartment 44. The first compartment 40 has a bottom surface 46. The second compartment 42 has a bottom surface 48. The third compartment 44 has a bottom surface 50. The bottom surfaces 48 and 50 are at a lower vertical height than the bottom surface 46, with respect to the vertical axis 24 (FIG. 1). Mounted on an inside surface 90 of the first shell 12 are two spring buttons 92 and 94. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that these spring buttons 92 and 94 can be mounted on a surface of the second shell 14 instead of or in addition to on a surface of the first shell 12. In addition, it is not necessary that there are two spring buttons, but other numbers of buttons can be used. It will also be understood by those of skill in the art that the buttons 92 and 94 do not need to be round, but may take on one of many suitable shapes. The buttons 92 and 94 are capable of movement between a first position in which they are near the surface 90 and a second position in which they are further away from the surface 90. It will be appreciated by one with skill in the art, that when a food item is placed in the compartment 40, a spring button will more securely hold the food item in place by exerting pressure on the food item. The pressure will be strong enough to hold the item in place without damaging it. Compartments 42 and 44 are best suited for holding heavy objects such as beverage bottles 102, fruit 104, yogurt containers 106 and the like. Compartment 40 is best suited for storing soft items such as sandwiches 108, bags of snacks 110 and the like. Because the bottom surfaces 48 and 50 are at a point lower than the bottom surface 46 with respect to the vertical axis 24, the heavy items are kept separate from the lighter items to prevent damage to the lighter items.

A latch 60 is fastened to the first shell 12 and interacts with a post 62 on the second shell 14 to close the first shell 12 with respect to the second shell 14, although other means to secure the first shell 12 to the second shell 14 are possible. One alternative latch arrangement is shown in FIG. 4. A latch 160 interacts with a catch 162.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lunchbox 10 has a concave depression 120. The user 122 can hold the lunchbox 10 against his body such that the concave depression 120 fits snugly against his side 124.

As best seen in FIGS. 7-10, hinges 70 and 72 are provided so that the first shell 12 can move with respect to the second shell 14. The hinges 70 and 72 have flat outside surfaces 74 and 76 such that they may be placed on a horizontal surface and the lunchbox 10 will remain in position resting on the hinge surfaces 74 and 76.

As best seen in FIGS. 11-13, the first shell 12 has a cavity 140. A plate 142 is capable of being releasably secured within the cavity 140 and held in place by ridges 144 in the cavity 140. The plate 142 can have an ornamental design 146 thereon. Additional plates 148, 150 and 152 may be substituted for the plate 142 to change the appearance of the lunchbox 10. As shown in FIGS. 14-16, the plate 142 may include mounting holes 154 to receive decorations 156, which may include jewels, beads, or other ornamentations.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, a user can generate images on personal computer 170 to be placed on one or more of the ornamental plates 142, 148, 150 and 152. The images may include scanned images of the user 172, predefined decorations 174, and generated artwork 176 using tools 178 and predefined content 180. The completed image 182 may be printed and attached to the ornamental plates 142, 148, 150 and 152.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there are many equally feasible physical arrangements of the various elements described. The foregoing description is meant to provide a conceptual overview and should not be viewed as limiting the invention. While the invention has been described by reference to various specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but will have full scope defined by the language of the following claims. 

1. A food storage container, comprising: a first shell; a second shell connected to the first shell for pivotal movement of the first shell with respect to the second shell; a latch for releasably securing the first shell to the second shell; the food storage container having a vertical axis passing through the first shell and the second shell, the second shell having a first compartment having a bottom surface at a first vertical location, a second compartment having a bottom surface at a second vertical location lower than the first vertical location and a third compartment having a bottom surface at a third vertical location lower than the first vertical location.
 2. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the second and third vertical locations are at substantially the same point on the vertical axis.
 3. The food storage container of claim 1 further including a spring button attached to one of the first shell and the second shell, the spring button capable of moving between a first position in which the spring button is near one of the first shell and the second shell and a second position in which the spring button is further away from the one of the first shell and the second shell.
 4. The food storage container of claim 3 further including a second spring button attached to one of the first shell and the second shell, the second spring button capable of moving between a first position in which the second spring button is near one of the first shell and the second shell and a second position in which the second spring button is further away from the one of the first and second shell.
 5. The food storage container of claim 1 further including a hand grip area located on one of the first shell and the second shell and having depressions therein each sized to receive a finger of a user.
 6. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the second and third compartments are each sized to hold at least a cylindrical object having a diameter of at least 2.5 inches and a height of at least 4.75 inches while the first shell is releasably secured to the second shell.
 7. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the first compartment is sized to hold at least an object having the approximate dimensions of 6.5 inches in length, 5 inches in width and 2 inches in height when the first shell is secured to the second shell.
 8. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the first compartment has a volume of between 60 cubic inches and 120 cubic inches.
 9. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the second compartment has a volume of between 50 cubic inches and 100 cubic inches.
 10. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the second and third compartments are each sized to receive a generally cylindrical container with a diameter of greater than 2.5 inches and a height of greater than 4.75 inches, when the first shell is secured to the second shell.
 11. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second shell has an outside surface and wherein the outside surface has a cavity therein, and further including a first decorative plate releasably secured within the cavity.
 12. The food storage container of claim 11 further including a second decorative plate adapted to be releasably secured within the cavity in place of the first decorative plate.
 13. The food storage container of claim 12 wherein a user of the lunchbox can modify the appearance of the first decorative plate by generating an decorative image on a personal computer and attaching the decorative image to the decorative plate.
 14. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the first shell is connected to the second shell by hinges.
 15. The food storage container of claim 14 wherein the hinges have a flat outer surface such that the food storage container will remain in place when the outer surfaces of the hinges are placed on a horizontal surface.
 16. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the first and second shells are made from high density polyethylene.
 17. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the first and second shells are made from low density polyethylene.
 18. The food storage container of claim 1 wherein the first and second shells are made from polypropylene. 